Cecilia Colledge
British figure skater, Olympic silver medalist, and spin innovator.
Magdalena Cecilia Colledge, a British figure skater born in London on 28 November 1920, claimed the 1936 Olympic silver medal, the 1937 World title, three consecutive European championships from 1937 to 1939, and six British national crowns (1935–1939 and 1946). She is widely recognized for pioneering the layback spin, though the invention of the camel spin is credited to multiple skaters.
Colledge grew up in London, the daughter of surgeon Lionel Colledge and Margaret, whose father was Admiral John Brackenbury. Her only sibling, Maule, served in the Royal Air Force and died in 1943 during World War II, likely from a collision with a Lancaster Bomber piloted by David Maltby, who also perished. She never married, had no children, and passed away on 12 April 2008 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Her skating career began after she attended the 1928 World Championships in London, invited by the mother of Maribel Vinson. Inspired by Sonja Henie and Vinson, who won gold and silver, Colledge trained under Eva Keats and Jacques Gerschwiler. Gerschwiler, a former gymnastics teacher, was “very progressive in his ideas” and tested his theories on her as his youngest pupil. He had her take ballet and “stretch” lessons from Miss Lee, an acrobatics instructor and ex-circus performer. The layback spin originated when Gerschwiler watched Lee train Colledge in backbends using a rope around her waist.
At just eleven years and four months, Colledge represented Great Britain at the 1932 Winter Olympics, becoming the youngest British Olympic figure skater and placing eighth. She earned silver at the 1933 European Championships, her first British national title in 1935, bronze at the 1935 Europeans, and silver at the 1935 Worlds. In 1936, she won a second national title and another Europeans silver, landing a double salchow at that event—a notable early double jump by a woman, though not the first in competition. At the 1936 Olympics, aged fifteen, she took silver behind Henie after a tight competition. After school figures, Colledge trailed Henie by only a few points, which reportedly infuriated Henie, though stories of her tearing up the posted results are likely apocryphal. The free skate draw placed Henie last and Colledge second, an early start seen as a disadvantage; a staggered draw was later adopted.
- Born
- 28 November 1920
- Died
- 12 April 2008
- Field
- Figure skating
- Nationality
- British
- Known for
- Pioneering the layback spin; one of the first women to land a double jump in competition
Lore & Background
Cecilia Colledge grew up in London. Her father, Lionel, was a surgeon researching the treatment of throat cancer, and her mother, Margaret, was the daughter of Admiral John Brackenbury. She had one sibling, a brother named Maule who served in the Royal Air Force and died in 1943 during World War II. It is believed the cause of his death was a collision with a Lancaster Bomber piloted by David Maltby, who also died in the crash. Colledge never married and had no children. She died on 12 April 2008 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Colledge began skating after watching the 1928 World Championships, which were held in London. Her mother, Margaret, had been invited by the mother of Maribel Vinson. At the event, Cecilia was inspired by the performances of Sonja Henie and Maribel Vinson, who won gold and silver respectively.
Reader's Guide
Cecilia Colledge's significance lies in her technical innovations and competitive achievements during the 1930s. She was the first female skater to land a double jump (a double salchow) in competition at the 1936 European Championships. Along with her coach Jacques Gerschwiler, she invented the camel spin (in 1937) and the layback spin, both of which became standard elements in figure skating. She also invented the one-foot Axel jump, known as the 'Colledge'. Her free skating program was noted by T. D. Richardson in 1938 as 'by far the most difficult attempted by anyone, man or woman, in the Skating World'. After World War II, she returned to win a sixth British national title in 1946. She later moved to the United States in 1951 and became a coach at the Skating Club of Boston between 1952 and 1977, teaching skaters such as Albertina Noyes, Paul McGrath, and Ron Ludington. She was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1980. Her legacy includes both her competitive medals and her lasting contributions to the technical vocabulary of figure skating.
Did You Know?
- Colledge was the youngest Olympic figure skater at age 11 years and 4 months when she competed in the 1932 Winter Olympics.
- She invented the camel spin and the layback spin, as well as the one-foot Axel jump (the 'Colledge').
- During World War II, she drove an ambulance in the Motor Transport Corps during the London Blitz.
- At the 1936 Olympics, Sonja Henie tore up the posted school figures results after seeing how close Colledge's score was.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cecilia Colledge?
Cecilia Colledge (28 November 1920 – 12 April 2008) was a British figure skater born in London who became one of the sport's most decorated female competitors in the 1930s. She is best remembered as a spin innovator and an Olympic medalist.
What major titles did Cecilia Colledge win?
Her medal collection includes the 1936 Olympic silver, the 1937 World Championship gold, three straight European titles from 1937 through 1939, and six British national championships spanning 1935–1939 and 1946.
What technical element is Cecilia Colledge credited with pioneering?
She is widely recognized as the first skater to perform the layback spin in competition, a move that became a staple of women's figure skating. She was also among the earliest women to land a double jump on the international stage.
What was Cecilia Colledge's family background?
She was the daughter of London surgeon Lionel Colledge and Margaret, whose own father was Admiral John Brackenbury. Her only sibling, Maule, served in the Royal Air Force and was killed in 1943 during the war.
Why is Cecilia Colledge considered important to figure skating history?
Her introduction of the layback spin opened up a whole new category of rotational elements that skaters still build on today. Combined with her Olympic, World, and European podium finishes, she helped define what a complete competitive program looked like in the 1930s.
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